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House Passes Legislation To Increase Federal Annuity Payments for Some

CRS/FERS sick leave

tech assistant
Treasury
Thu Jul 31, 2008 8:23 AM

Post Reply

We have two tiers of employees in our group: CRS & FERS. There is a large imbalance between the benefits of CRS vs. FERS. I think it's time to equal the playing field. I hope the Senate passes the bill.

FERS Sick Leave

Admin Clerk
USPS
Thu Jul 31, 2008 8:24 AM

Post Reply

OK, good for them. Now how about CSRS getting the same matching in the TSP. Perhaps some folks would have switched over had we known sick leave would count!

Re: FERS Sick Leave

Assistant United States Attorney
DOJ
Fri Aug 1, 2008 10:10 AM
How about the fact that CSRS employees do not have to pay into social security and FERS employees do - and it will not be there for FERS employees to even claim. FERS employees get screwed compared to CSRS employees.

Re: FERS Sick Leave

typist
vha
Fri Aug 1, 2008 2:11 PM
You hit it right on the nailhead. This is where the problem exist. social security is a government hand out and distribution of government handouts go broke over a period of time ,years. When President Bush wanted to privatize it to those who wanted to go that route, he got turned down. I bet my retirement would have almost doubled if it where turned to the free market system with me controlling it. Thanks for your input.

Re: FERS Sick Leave

CR
SSA
Tue Aug 12, 2008 8:40 PM
First off, Social Security will be there, what politician will let Social Security fail. It has to remain in place even if tax rates are increased or a large segment of the public will have nothing, which if I'm not mistaken is what happened in the Great Depression and is what lead to Social Security being created. So again, get over the whole "it won't be there thing." Second, Social Security repays all the taxes you paid within 5 to 8 years in most cases. While its true some of the ultra smart investors could take your FICA tax and turn it into some great nest egg, its also true that if you took that nest egg and bought a private annuity, that your monthly payment would be less than that of Social Security. Even if you did well, what of everyone else? More people would be poorer in retirement and after 65 end up on Supplemental Security Income and in subsidized housing, which is paid for by tax dollars. You'd also have to save for Medicare and Disability which is also in FICA.

Link

Manager
USDA
Thu Jul 31, 2008 8:25 AM

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Editor - the link in the article underlined as "it also concerns sick leave" is not working. I beleive the bill number you are referring to in the article is HR 1108EH?

Everyone shuold look at the contents of the bill.

Thanks.

Re: Link

editor
FedSmith.com
Thu Jul 31, 2008 10:20 AM
The link has been repaired to show the entire bill.

Re: Link

Claims Rep
SSA
Tue Aug 12, 2008 3:42 PM
You know what? I'm getting so sick and tired of FERS employees whinning about not getting credit for sick leave so they abuse it to no end. If Federal Managers had any backbone, they would document sick leave abuse and after repeated violations tell the abusers to let the door hit you where the good Lord split you! Then hire people who want to work rather than abuse tax payer dollars. CSRS employees don't have any match to our TSP but do you hear us crying about not being bailed out by the government which is all that the match program is. It is government sponsored Welfare for a bunch of lazy good for nothing cry babies. You people need to either grow up or go out and get a job in the private sector where you will finally have to work for a living!

Re: Link

CR
SSA
Tue Aug 12, 2008 8:46 PM
I don't know what office you work in but its the CSRS who are the lazy good for nothings and the newer FERS employees that actually have a work ethic. You get a much higher pension and a bump in your calculation on that pension for your sick leave. You also get full COLAs in retirement while FERS employees only get a percentage of your COLA. You think the Government changed their retirement package because they wanted to give better benefits? They switched to foot less of a bill. Quit whinning about the match in TSP, the investment options are narrow and limit any real investment strategy. AND that's the only thing we get that you don't. Oh and Social Security which when combined with a FERS pension still doesn't hit what you will receive. I'd rather sit around soaking up sick leave doing nothing and know that I'd have over 50% of my pre-retirement income then actually have to worry about investing to even reach 50%. Enjoy WEP.

Increase Federal Annuity Payments to Some

Administrative Assistant
USDA Forest Service
Thu Jul 31, 2008 8:25 AM

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Does this, then, not cover a Federal Retiree under FERS who retired over 3 years ago with over 400 hours of unused sick leave? It seems as though our annuities would be reworked. I know it wouldn't be a lot, but today every little bit helps and it seems this would only be fair.

Re: Increase Federal Annuity Payments to Some

Diversity Manager
DOL
Thu Jul 31, 2008 3:18 PM
Exactly it won't count

...and justice for all

Area Specialist
USDA, Rural Development
Thu Jul 31, 2008 8:27 AM

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I think it's well known that the disparity between the systems is the real reason FERS employees use rather than lose thier sick leave when they near retirement. It only makes sense to use it. They should cut the chase and even the systems up from 'now' not after 3 years of the bill passing.

Intelligence in the House

Director
DoD
Thu Jul 31, 2008 8:35 AM

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It's about time our lawmakers took up some legislation regarding federal employees that will have a real impact on productivity of the workforce. Sick leave is abused beyond belief, especially by FERS employees who use it for less than appropriate or necessary purposes because it otherwise has no value to them when they resign or retire. We can only hope the Senate, the full Congress and the President support enactment.

The choice of bills into which this favorable law is buried is not the issue, as this has become nearly standard protocol these days with our wheeling and dealing, lawmaking side of Government.

Re: Intelligence in the House

Civil Engr Tech
USFS
Thu Jul 31, 2008 12:13 PM
You might be correct but don't discount the fact that many of us CSRS employees use our annual leave when we are sick. There's no incentive for FERS to do that. I don't believe it's all abuse from the FERS group.

FERS sick leave law change

IT Specialist
USAF
Thu Jul 31, 2008 8:49 AM

Post Reply

The article states that CSRS employees got a better deal when computing a retirement annuity. FERS has matching contributions to the TSP. Can someone introduce a bill to get matching funds for CSRS folks also?

Re: FERS sick leave law change

Diversity Manager
DOL
Thu Jul 31, 2008 3:20 PM
I'm sure someone would but what are you willing to give up to fund it? How about forgoing annual COLA's in retirement
Total Comments: 124
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